hold my hand

Hold My Hand: Contemporary Dance with an Undercurrent of Hope

ARENA DANCES kicks off its 23rd season with a politically charged performance at The Fitzgerald Theater

Saint Paul (November, 2018): Mathew Janczewski brings his subtle, rich and viscerally honest choreographic voice to the Fitzgerald stage for a one-of-a-kind performance by ARENA DANCES. Through intimate movement and lush soundscapes, unravels a politically charged central theme: gun violence in America. Holding nothing back, the dancers tap into the emotional impact of this reality, blurring the lines between artistry and activism. Throughout the performance runs an undercurrent of hope—a sense that society is on the brink of learning the difficult lessons of the past, and could finally be ready to progress.

As part of this event, ARENA is partnering with local and national gun control and safety organizations. Representatives from these organizations will be present the night of the performance, encouraging conversation and providing information and support. 

4 Moving Pieces

Hold My Hand

The show’s title work is built on the score “Requiem” by Minnesota composer and 2018 McKnight Fellowship recipient, Joshua Clausen. Inspired by Sophie Chou’s sonification of gun violence statistics, the score will be performed live by MPLS (imPulse) choir led by Samuel Grace with special guest Soprano, Carrie Henneman Shaw. High school students from Saint Paul Conservatory of Performing Arts will dance alongside ARENA performers for this stunning and impactful premier.

One Room

Also making its premier is a trio set to the experimental and contemplative music of Nils Frahm. This undulating exploration of movement builds to a climactic finish viewers won’t soon forget. 

Run With Me

A popular work from the past—revitalized for today. Opening the show, this lush, sinuous men’s quartet is a display of immense physicality. Lightsey Darst for MN Artists called it “…vivid whirl, densely layered and evocative...with moments of crystalline clarity. Melancholic, romantic, dramatic and lovely.”

Threshold

Created in 2010, Threshold began as a women’s sextet and has since been performed by both men and women. With the fight for gender equality taking center stage in national conversation, now is an ideal time for this work to return to its roots with a cast of all-female dancers. Their movement is a meditation on the emotional space between leaving and entering, as if you’re on the brink of transforming—the future in sight, but not quite yet a reality.

Performance Details

Saturday, November 10, 7:30 p.m.

The Fitzgerald Theater

10 East Exchange Street

Saint Paul, MN, 55101

Tickets: $24 general admission; $15 students and seniors

Available for purchase at The Fitzgerald Theater Box Office, all Etix outlets and online at www.etix.com. To purchase via phone, call 800-514-3849.